Chaos erupted at the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Idanre Local Government Area, Ondo State, leaving at least three people feared dead.
Witnesses described a scene of panic and confusion as armed men disrupted the event, turning what was meant to be a routine party gathering into a violent confrontation.
According to reports, a vehicle belonging to a prominent APC stalwart was set ablaze amid the disorder, symbolising the intensity of the violence.
Residents and party members at the scene recounted how armed men, suspected to be loyal to factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), stormed the venue, firing sporadically into the air and causing panic among attendees.
Witnesses said that the thugs disrupted the congress exercise, inflicting multiple injuries on participants and destroying property.
One of the casualties reportedly belonged to the family of a senior APC chieftain in Idanre Local Government Area, underscoring the personal toll the clashes have taken on party members.
Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Authorities have yet to clarify the specific motives behind the attack, leaving many questions about the triggers for the deadly confrontation.
The violence comes on the heels of another attack the previous day. On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, a key stakeholders’ meeting of the APC in Akure, Ondo State, was violently disrupted by suspected hoodlums.
Eyewitnesses described how men armed with sticks, machetes, and other crude weapons stormed the APC secretariat, assaulting party officials, including the state chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.
Several attendees were reportedly hospitalised with injuries ranging from minor cuts to severe bruises sustained during the frenzied attack.
According to Adetimehin, the assailants repeatedly threatened party members and insisted that the ongoing ward congress should be cancelled.
“They came in force this morning and ordered everybody to leave. They claimed the governor owns the party. We told them we were not challenging anybody’s authority, but they attacked us,” he said.
Adetimehin also revealed that he was physically assaulted, dragged to the ground, and robbed of his wristwatch and two mobile phones during the attack.
He identified the attackers as members of the NURTW, though independent verification of this claim remains pending.
Political analysts say the Ondo APC violence highlights deeper factional tensions within the party, with different interest groups attempting to assert control over local party structures ahead of upcoming elections.
These internal conflicts have increasingly manifested as physical confrontations, threatening both party cohesion and the democratic process.
Residents of Idanre and surrounding areas expressed concern that continued unchecked violence may escalate into a wider crisis.
“This is not just a political fight; it is terrorising innocent people and families. We hope security agencies act fast,” one eyewitness said.
The repeated attacks on APC gatherings in Ondo State have raised questions about the preparedness of law enforcement agencies to protect party officials and voters.
Stakeholders and civil society groups are calling for urgent intervention to ensure that political activities can proceed without intimidation, destruction, or the risk of further loss of life.
Political commentators suggest that the Ondo APC violence is part of a broader pattern of intra-party disputes that have turned violent in recent years, often fueled by competition for positions, control of local structures, and influence over the state’s political machinery.
Analysts warn that unless decisive measures are taken, such confrontations could further erode public confidence in the electoral process and threaten peaceful political engagement in the state.
The APC leadership at the state and national levels has yet to issue an official statement addressing the violence, leaving party members and the public anxious about the next steps.
With the ward congress intended to facilitate internal party democracy, the disruption underscores the challenges political parties face in maintaining order and transparency during critical organizational exercises.
As investigations continue, the number of casualties and extent of property damage remain uncertain.
However, one thing is clear: the recent spate of attacks, including the violence at the Idanre ward congress, signals an urgent need for both the APC and security agencies to address factional disputes and ensure that political engagement does not descend into chaos.
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